Sónar’s 18-20 June 2026 edition in Barcelona brought major changes, confusing attendees and prompting questions about the festival’s developing identity. For the first time, its day and night programmes shared Fira Gran Via in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, ending the long-standing split between Sónar by Day at Fira Montjuïc and Sónar by Night at Gran Via. The consolidated site and reworked layout left many festivalgoers disoriented; some even mistook the event for another major festival, such as Primavera Sound. Intense concerts and high volume levels added to the confusion, making it hard for visitors to work out where they were and, at times, even to keep their bearings.
The change was large, both logistically and symbolically. Sónar by Day had been based at Montjuïc since 2013, while Sónar by Night had used Fira Gran Via since 2001. In 2026, the single-site format brought six stages together, three outdoors: SonarVillage, SonarPark and SonarLab. Indoors were SonarClub, SonarHall and SonarCar. Thursday’s programme ran from 17:00 to 03:00, with four stages open; on Friday and Saturday, it stretched from 17:00 until 07:00 the following morning. The festival’s published logistics listed metro line L9 as an access option and said the gates closed one hour before the music ended.
One of the most noticeable changes is the perceived retreat from the festival’s traditional emphasis on experimentation and innovation. This year, Sónar appears to put music and entertainment ahead of the advanced artistic experiences that once defined it. Its visual identity has shifted too, with less emphasis on distinctive imagery and merchandising. Attendees say creative installations and distinctive branding have given way to simpler designs, including a subdued bumper-car sculpture and more basic wristbands. The festival has dropped its cashless payment system in favor of standard card transactions, and its distinctive aesthetic has faded.
Security measures have become more visible, with plainclothes police carrying out searches and detentions in discreet areas of the venue. The crowd spans many styles and attitudes, from extravagant costumes to casual festival wear. Despite that diversity, political symbols and protest banners have been notably absent, even as the festival’s ownership and management have faced scrutiny over their positions on cultural boycotts and international issues.
Longtime attendees have voiced nostalgia for the former Montjuïc site and the atmosphere it offered. Moving day and night programming to Fira Gran Via has changed the event’s geography, disrupting traditional meeting points and reshaping its social dynamics. Standout performances by Charlotte de Witte, Nia Archives and Daniel Avery, but, captivated audiences and briefly eased concerns about the changes. SonarLab, one of the three outdoor stages, remains a highlight, with its skyline backdrop; some believe the setting could become iconic in its own right.
Despite practical changes and a shift toward a more hedonistic model, Sónar continues to draw a diverse, enthusiastic crowd. Its ability to deliver memorable musical experiences remains intact, even as debate over the festival’s direction and identity carries on. Founded in Barcelona in 1994, Sónar built its reputation on advanced music, multimedia art and the intersection of music, creativity and technology. Its history spans performances and audiovisual production, alongside installations and creative-technology programming. The move to Fira Gran Via was intended to accommodate larger audiences and modernize the event, but reactions suggest the transition has cost the festival some of its original spirit.
The consolidation also puts fresh focus on how audiences move through the programme, from daytime performances to headline concerts and late-night club sets, all at one site. The shift has not erased Sónar’s creative-technology strand: the festival’s 2027 dates, listed as 17-19 June at Fira Gran Via, also include Sónar+D. For a festival long identified with music and technological creativity, the debate now concerns how that combination is presented as well as where it takes place.
